This Is Out of My Comfort Zone

Let me tell you a recent story about how I stepped out of my comfort zone.
 
A few weeks ago, I decided to start doing 1:1 coaching.
I was really nervous at first.
 
I wanted to work closely with some of you guys on a deeper level. Helping you dissolve the limiting beliefs keeping you stuck and help you unlock more clarity and confidence in your life.
 
And honestly? It’s been way more rewarding than I expected!
 
One of my first clients asked a question that really stuck with me.
 
In just 30 minutes, we’d covered the fear of judgement, dealing with narcissistic colleagues and using your voice in a toxic environment.
 
Then they then asked:
 
“But even if I do all of this, how do I stop letting negative comments from people hold me back?”
 
(For context, they were hoping to start posting on social media and were worried about receiving negative comments.)
 
As we dug deeper, we uncovered something huge:
 
They’ve developed the habit of overvaluing other people’s opinions and devaluing their own.

 
Take this image for example, the value of your own opinion is minuscule compared to everyone else's. It’s the reason why you may have hopes and dreams you want to fulfil but are afraid to take the next step. 
 
No matter who's opinion you're afraid of, maybe the person you have in mind is more ‘important’, more ‘successful’, more ‘intelligent’ or more ‘qualified’.
 
But ultimately their opinion of you, is theirs.
 
Think about it:

Their opinion is theirs.
Just like their watch is theirs.
Their phone is theirs.
Their car is theirs.
Their house is theirs.
Their opinion is theirs.
It doesn’t belong to you - yet somehow, you’ve made it yours.
You’ve adopted their opinion as your own.
 
Why?
 
To protect yourself.
To pre-empt future judgment by aligning with the voice that might one day hurt you.
 
But here’s the truth:
Just like someone’s watch, phone, or car can be outdated, broken, or irrelevant…
Their opinion can be too.
Their opinion isn’t automatically true.
 
You just believed it to be true - because believing it felt safer than challenging it.
But safety isn’t always truth.
And protection isn’t the same as freedom.
 
Their opinion of you is only valid if you say it is.
 
Ask yourself:
Whose opinion have I taken into my possession?
And how would it serve you if you let it go?
 
Much love,

Christina Aaliyah